What led to the eleventh century revival and recovery?

Question

What led to the eleventh century revival and recovery?

Answer 1

Contact with Eastern cultures--Byzantine and Muslim--had much to do with it.  Another possible factor is the fact that, with so many European men away on the Crusades, positions of influence in Europe were held by women, and the artists who depended on patronage had to tailor their creativity to the tastes of their new patrons.  

Answer 2

You're probably talking about the end of the Dark Ages in Europe.

One key factor was a re-opening of trade with the Muslim world.  About the year 1000 ad., the city-state of Amalfi, Italy, became the first to trade with non-Christians; growing fabulously wealthy as a result.  Others, not willing to be held back, soon followed.  The result was a growth in commerce, as well as trade bringing new ideas to Europe.

Many of these ideas included the works of classical civilization which were long lost in Europe, but which were still preserved in the Muslim world.  The most important of these (circa 1000 ad) were the works of Aristotle, which inspired the church-philosopher Thomas Aquinas...beginning a new era of individualism in Europe.  Also important were the works of Galen, the top doctor of Roman times.

Also important is that with the growth of commerce came the growth of towns and cities.  These new urban centres became places were education could spread, and new artisan industries would develop.

Peasants also looked to cities as a way to remove their feudal bonds, thus leading to the collapse of the feudal system.